MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE LAND PURCHASE COMMISSION (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1880 Session I, G-07

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1880. NEW ZEALAND.

MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE LAND PURCHASE COMMISSION (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The OoMMISSIONBES to His Excellency the Goteenoi:. Sic, — Auckland, 9th August, 1880. In February of last year we were honoured with your Excellency's Commission to inquire into certain matters connected with the purchase of Native lands in tho Middle Island of New Zealand. We at once addressed ourselves to the task assigned to us, and have gone on with our work with all diligence, until compelled to suspend proceedings in consequence of our receiving an intimation from the Hon. Native the Minister that further expenditure on account of the Commission would not be authorized. Under these circumstances we feel it to be our duty to report to your Excellency the position in which we find ourselves placed with reference to the business intrusted to us, in order that we may receive your Excellency's further commands. We shall take the liberty of submitting for your Excellency's information a narrative of our proceedings in prosecuting the inquiry which we were required to make. We would premise that in the course of our proceedings we have encountered many obstacles, some of which we are of opinion need not have been raised, but the result of which has been to cause a dela} r which would not otherwise have occurred. On the receipt of our Commission, on the 3rd March, 1879, wo held a sitting in Wellington on the 13th of that month. Mr. Izard appeared as counsel for the Natives interested, and represented that an adjournment for some weeks would be necessary before opening the inquiry, giving reasons, in which the Commissioners fully concurred. A formal application was accordingly made by him on behalf of his clients (Mr. Taiaroa beinn; present and assenting) for such an adjournment, and it was finally arranged that tho Commission should sit at Christchurch on the 28th April. On the day fixed the Commission sat at Christchurch, and, on tho application of tho counsel for the Natives, adjourned to Kaiapoi. In opening the inquiry, and frequently during its progress, the Commissioners exnressed their desire to consult the convenience of the Natives interested by holding their sittings at such times and in such places as would best suit them. The object which we set before ourselves from the outset was to make the inquiry complete and exhaustive, so that there might be no ground left for a future reopening of the questions at issue between the .Natives and the Crown. We resolved to give to the Natives the fullest opportunity of stating their whole case in their own way, reserving only to ourselves the option of seeking such further evidence as we might consider necessary after their"case had been put before us by themselves or their counsel. The Commision sat at Kaiapoi on the sth of May, and took much important evidence from a large number of the Ngaitahu Tribe with reference to the purchase of the so-called Ngaitahu Block, also from Messrs. Kemp, Mantell, and Hamilton, through whose agency, as Land Purchase Commissioners, the main portion of the Middle Island was acquired from tho above original owners. During the sitting at Kaiapoi the Commissioners met with the first obstacle to their proceedings: The counsel for the Natives desired the production of the original deed of cession of the Akaroa Block, and the Commissioners applied to the Government for it, with other original deeds. The Hon. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Stout, refused to allow these deeds to be sent out of tho office. A second difficulty arose in consequence of the refusal of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Ballance. to authorize imprest advances which had been applied for and were required to meet current expenses, on the ground that there had been no vote by Parliament for the purpose. For these and other reasons, not necessary to be stated here, the Commissioners found it necessary to adjourn, which they did on the formal application of Mr. Izard, counsel for the Natives, who stated that his clients were not prepared to proceed with the inquiry of tho Akaroa purchase without the production of the original deed of cession. An adjournment to Wellington 'pro forma was proposed and acceded to by tho Commissioners, with a view of affording opportunity of communication with the Government with reference to those and other questions (among others, the appointment of a person to take the evidence in Maori) which had arisen in the course of our proceedings, and of coming to some understanding with regard to resuming thg inquiry at a future date. 1-G. 7.

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The Commission adjourned from Kaiapoi on the 21st May, to meet iv "Wellington on the 27th of the same month. From Wellington, it was further adjourned on the 27th of May, to meet again on the 11th August in Auckland, where the Commissioners considered it desirable to hold a sitting, in order to obtain the evidence of the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, Mr. Fenton, in connection with the proceedings of that Court in dealing with the order of reference to it of ihe Ngaitahu deed or arrangement, at its sitting in Christchurch in 1868 ; also, to obtain further evidence from Mr. Commissioner Kemp with reference to the Ngaitahu parchase. The Commission met in Auckland pursuant to adjournment, obtained the evidence of Messrs. Fenton and Kemp, and, on the 16th day of September, adjourned, to sit again in "Wellington on the 28th October, hoping that arrangements might then be made for resuming their work, and holding such sittings in the Middle Island as might be necessary. The Commission sat in "Wellington on the 28th October ; but, in consequence of Parliament being then in session, it was found inconvenient to arrange for proceeding at once with our inquiry in the Middle Island, and, at the request of Mr. Taiaroa, who was a member of the General Assembly, and could not leave his parliamentary duties to attend the sittings of the Commission, a further postponement was decided upon. As, however, there were maps to be prepared for the use of the Commission, and witnesses whose evidence might be taken in Wellington, the Commission continued its sitting there, and obtained important evidence from Sir George Grey, Hon. Mr. Mautell,and Mr. Alexander Mackay on the subject of our inquiry. On the sth November the Commission adjourned to Otaki, to obtain important evidence from the chief Matene to Whiwhi, who from physical infirmity was unable to travel to Wellington. The sitting in Wellington was resumed on the 11th November, and continued to the 6th December, when we adjourned to the 13th January, 1880, as the earliest date at which it which it would be possible to make arrangements for proceeding to the Middle Island for the purpose of resuming our inquiry by the examination of resident Native witnesses. On the 13th January, accordingly, the Commissioners again sat in Wellington, and proceeded to make arrangements for holding sittings in the Middle Island. The 2nd February was fixed for a sitting at Akaron, to take evidence in reference to the purchase of the Akaroa Block by Mr. Hamilton in 1866. That date was fixed as the earliest which would allow time for giving the necessary notices. In the interval, the Hon. Mr. Mantell was recalled, and gave further evidence before the Commission in Wellington. On the 20th January we received a letter from the Hon. the Native Minister, Mr. Bryce, requesting to be informed of the progress made by the Commission. A copy of the letter, and our reply thereto, we beg to enclose for your Excellency's information. On the 2(ith January, Mr. Bell, of the firm of Izard and Bell, waited on the Commission and stated that in consequence of severe illness, Mr. Izard, the counsel for the Natives, would be unable to attend the sitting notified to be held at Akaroa on the 2nd February, and requested us to postpone the Akaroa case. After communication with Mr. Taiaroa, then at Otakou, we decided to proceed to Akaroa, in pursuance of the notice given, in order to explain to the Natives who might attend the reason for postponement, Notice was then given of a sitting to be held in Dunedin on the 16th February, for the purpose of the inquiry into the Oiakou and Murihiku purchases. The Commissioners accordingly sat pro forma at Akaroa on the 2nd February, and adjourned to Christchurch, where wre sat from the sth to the 10th February, obtaining important evidence from the Rev. J. W. Stack on the subject of Native reserves, schools, and other matters. From Christchurch we proceeded to Dunedin, and, on the application of the counsel, adjourned the sitting to Port Chalmers, where sat from the 18th to the 20th, examining a number of Native witnesses, and receiving the evidence of Judge Symonds, the officer employed by the Government in the negotiating the purchase of the Otakou Block in 1844. The Commission next sat at Waikouaiti, from the 26th February to the 4th March, and took the evidence of a large number of witnesses, adjourning thence to sit on the Bth at Christchurch, where we hoped to obtain further evidence from the Rev, Mr. Stack, but were unable to do so, in consequence of his absence on his clerical duties. The Commission proceeded from Christchurch to Akaroa, where it sat from the 12th to the 17th of March, taking important Native and European evidence ; and from Akaroa we went to Riverton, finding it necessary to do so in order to obtain evidence which we considered of importance, in connection with the inquiry into the Murihiku purchase, from persons who could not come to Waikouaiti. The Commission sat at Riverton on the 21th and 25th of March, adjourning thence to sit again in Christchurch on the 2nd of April. At Christchurch more evidence was taken, and it was our intention to obtain evidence there from the Hon. W. Eolleston and the Hon. Major Richmond ; but, in consequence of arrangements made for the purpose falling through, we were prevented from doing so. From Christchurch we adjourned on the st:h of April to Wellington, to sit again on the 12th. On the 13th April wo received a letter from the Hon. the Native Minister, Mr. Bryce, suggesting the suspension of our proceedings until after the meeting of Parliament. Copies of that letter, with our reply thereto, and Mr. Bryce's rejoinder, we beg to enclose herewith for your Excellency's information. Considering it necessary that we should meet to collate the evidence taken, and decide upon what further evidence we should obtain, w re determined to adjourn to Auckland, to meet on the 10th May. We met accordingly on that date, and found that the work connected with the collation of the evidence and putting into shape the records of our proceedings occupied a longer time than we anticipated. On the 16th June we adjourned, to meet again on the 19th July to complete the work. On the 28th June wo were informed, in reply to our requisitions for imprest advances on account of expenses, that the Governnient cannot authorize any further advances on account of the Commission; and subsequently an account, made up partly of items of expenses incurred for which a refund was a^ked, was presented by one of the Commissioners and refused payment with a similar intimation.

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We have to apologise to your Excellency for the infliction of the above tedious narrative, but it appeared to us necessary to enable your Excellency to understand our position, with a view to such steps being taken as your Excellency may seem fit. We also feel called upon to notice remarks made by the Hon. the Native Minister, Mr. Bryce, in his place in the House of Representatives, on the 2nd July, ultimo, reported in Hansard, page 687. Mr. Bryce states that he had on many occasions applied to the Commissioners, desiring to receive information as to when they were likely to make a report, but could never got any reply. We are not aware of any application or question put to us, either in writing or verbally, to which a reply was not given at once. The correspondence, copies of which accompany this letter, shows that replies were given to the only letters received by us on the subject. Mr. Bryce further states that ho expressed to one of the Commissioners his surprise that no interim report had been received from them. On the 30fch June the Commissioners referred to had an interview with Mr. Bryce on further imprest supplies for the Commission. Mr. Bryce expressed his opinion that it was not likely the House would vote a further supply, and, further, that the Government did not intend to ask for such a vote. Mr. Bryce then inquired why an interim report had not been sent in, and was answered that such a report could only be made at the expense of the final report, and that a final report would be sent in when the Commissioners had finished taking the necessary evidence, which might probably be done in about three months ; and, in reply to a question from Mr. Bryce as to when the Commission were likely to send in their report, he was answered thus: "In about three months. I will go to Auckland and consult my colleague on the question of an interim report, but I have objections to any such report, as it could only be made at the expense of the final report." With reference to presenting an ad interim report, we are at a loss to understand the object or advantage of doing so. The inquiry we have been directed to make relates to the past. We have to ascertain facts connected with transactions long since passed and concluded, and we haye not, as in the case of the Native Commission on the West Coast, recommendations to make, the carrying out of which might affect a final report. With respect to the expenditure incurred, we feel that to be a question with which we are not called upon to deal. We accepted our Commission without reference to any question of the cost of carrying it out. That our expenditure has not been wasteful or extravagant, the accounts will, we doubt not, sufficiently show. The amount expended may appear large, but it should be borne in mind that the work necessarily involved considerable outlay or expense. The Commissioners had to pay their secretary and shorthand reporter, also travelling expenses for the whole party, passages by steamer, fares by railway, &c, expenses of witnesses to a partial extent, hire of rooms, and numberless other expenses inseparable from such a work as devolved upon them, as it did, to hold sittings in Auckland, Wellington, Oiaki, Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Waikouaiti, Akaroa, and liiverton. The question of providing the necessary funds is, we presume, one for Parliament to deal with, and we will not remark further upon it. As regards Mr. Bryce's reference to what he terms a barren result, we have only to say that the result, so far as it is yet developed, has cost labour and care, as well as money, and we may, we think, be pardoned should we ask if it is not premature to stigmatize it as a barren one. We have, &c, Tuos. IT. Smith, Fhaxcis E. Nairn, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, G.C.M.G., Commissioners. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Mr. T. W. Lewis to the Commisstojtees. Gentlemen,— Native Office, Wellington, 19th January, 1880. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to request you will be good enough to report what progress you have made in connection with the Middle Island Commission since your last interview with him on the subject several weeks ago. Mr. Bryce desires me to state that, if such satisfactory progress has not been made as will indicate an early conclusion of the inquiry, the Government will seriously consider whether the Commission should not at once terminate. I have, &c, T. H. Smith, Esq., and F. E. Nairn, Esq.,' T. W. Lewis, Middle Island Commission, Wellington. IJnder-Secretary.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. The Middle Island Native Land Purchase Commission, SlB, — Provincial Buildings, Wellington, 20th January, 1880. "We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Mr. TJnder-Secretary Lewis's letter, No. 1332, requesting us to report what progress we have made in connection with the Middle Island Commission since our last interview with you on the subject several weeks ago. In reply we have the honor to state that, since the date of the interview referred to, much important evidence has been taken by us, given by the gentlemen named i?i the margin.* We have further to state, for your information, that the prosecution of the inquiry we are charged with by our Commission, and which makes it necessary that we should sit at Akaroa and at Dunedin, has been

* A. Mackay, Esq., Sir fteorge Grey, Hon. Mr. Mantell.

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delayed from various causes. Among them, the fact that the Native chiefs, Hon. Mr. Taiaroa and Mr. Tainui, were unable to attend the sitting of the Commission at either of the places named until after the close of tho late session of Parliament. Also the fact that Mr. Izard, who has beau engaged by them to prepare the evidence which is desired to lay before the Commission, was engaged in the Supreme Court at the time, and could not attend to their business. At the joint request of Mr. Taiaroa and oi his counsel, Mr. Izard, a postponement of the sitting at Akaroa and Dunedin until after Christmas was assented to by us. The 2nd of February proximo has been fixed for the sitting of the Commission, at Akaroa, notice of which appears in the Kahtii o JSTiu Tireni, No. 43, 10th December, 1879. And we are not aware of any cause of further delay in proceeding with the inquiry. So far as we can see at present, we expect to adjourn from Akaroa and Dunedin about the 16th February. It is manifestly impossible for us to limit the time within which tho inquiry intrusted to us may be brought to a close, but, so far as we are able to judge from the course Mr. Izard purposes to follow, in presenting the case of his clients, we do not anticipate protracted proceedings. We may add that, until the case, as put before, us by him on behalf of the Natives interested, is completed, we shall not be in position to say what further evidence we may consider it necessary to obtain before we are able to report to His Excellency the Governor. We have, &c, Thos. IT. Smith, F. E. Nairn, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Commissioners.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. Mr. T. W. Lewis to the Commissioners. G-EKTLEMEN,— Native.Office, Wellington, 12th April, 1880. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to inform you that the sum voted for the expenses of the Middle Island Commission is approaching exhaustion, and Mr. Bryce feels that Parliament would not justify him, if he allowed the vote to be exceeded. lam to request you to be good enough to state whether he is right in supposing that there is little chance of the inquiry being completed and closed within the limits of the expenses prescribed by the Legislature. Mr. Bryce understands that you have just completed certain inquiries in the Middle Island, and would therefore suppose that a convenient stage had now being readied at which the inquiry might stop, until Parliament has determined whether an additional sum shall be devoted in continuance of the labours of the Commission. If the opinion above stated is correct, the Native Minister will feel it necessary to request that you will not incur any further expense in connection with your Commission, but will defer this request until he has your reply to this communication. I have, &c, T. W. Lewis, The Middle Island Commissioners, Wellington. TJnder-Secretary.

Enclosure 4 in No. 1. The Commissionebs to the Hon. the Native Minister. Middle Island Native Land Purchase Commission, Sib,— ■Wellington, 14th April, 1880. "Wo have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. ITnder-Secretary Lewis's letter, quoted in the margin (No. 1G10), informing us that the sum voted for the expenses of the Middle Island Commission is approaching exhaustion, requesting us to state our opinion as to whether the inquiry upon which we are engaged is likely to be '/completed and closed within the limits of the expenses prescribed by the Legislature," and suggesting that a convenient stage has been reached at which that inquiry might stop, until Parliament shall have determined whether an additional sum shall be devoted to its continuance. In reply, we have the honor to state that in accepting our Commission we were not aware that any limits had been fixed within which the expenses of the Commission were to be kept; and, as we are not in a position to say that the limits to which Mr. Lewis's letter refers may not be exceeded, should we proceed with our inquiry, we feel that our proper course is to acquiesce in your proposal that the inquiry should stop at its present stage, and that further expense in connection witli our Commission should not be incurred until an opportunity has been given for reference to Parliament oil the subject. la'thus suspending the inquiry intrusted to us, we beg respectfully to express our view of the matter, that the responsibility of doing so rests wholly upon yourself. ¥c understand that, failing an assurance from tis that that the sum voted by Parliament will not be exceeded, we shall be requested not to incur further expense in connection with the Commission. That assurance we are unable to give, and the alternative is forced upon us. In pursuance of the course indicated, we shall now adjourn to Auckland, where we purpose collating the evidence already taken, and considering what further evidence may be required. Meanwhile we consider it necessary to retain the services of our secretary. We have, &c., TnoMAS 11. Smith, Francis E. Nairn", The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Commissioners,

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Enclosure 5 in No 1. Mr. T. W. Lewis to the Commissioners. Gentlemen,— Native Office, Wellington, 16th April, 1880. I have the honor, hy direction oE the Hon. the Native Minister, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and to inform you in reply that Mr. Bryce is prepared to take the full responsibility of refusing to incur any expense whatever in connection with your inquiry in excess of the amount voted by Parliament. Until the whole of the accounts come in, Mr. Bryco is not aware of the exact balance which may remain unexpended of the vote; but he desires me to say that he will not pass any vouchers in excess of the sum voted, either for the services of a secretary, or for any other purpose ; nor is he even prepared to say that Parliament will bo asked to v(ste any additional sum in connection with the Commission, T. have, &c, T. W. Lewis, The Middle Island Commissioners, Wellington. Under-Secretary.

[TRANSLATION.] He Eeta na nga Komihana o nga Hoko Whenua Maoki o te Waipounamu ki a Te Kawana me etahi reta atu, mai hold, ki Te Minita mo te Taha Maori. (I tukua ki nga Wliare c rua o te Runcmga Nui I runga i te whalcahau a te Kawana?) Xi a te Kawana o Niu Tireni. Eta,— I a Pepuere o te tau kua pahure nei i vvhakataua c koe to Komihana ki a maua hei rapu i nga tikanga o roto i te hoko o nga whenua Maori i te motu o te Waipounamu o Niu Tireni. Tahuri tonu maua kite main i whakaritea ma maua me ta maua mahi nui tonu a tae noa kite wa i whakatarewatia ai i runga i to putanga mai o te kupa o te Minita mo te taha Maori c kore c whakaaetia etahi atu moni aim mo nga mahi ate Komihana. I runga i enei tikanga c mea ana maua me tuku kupu atu maua ki a koe c te Kawana whakaatu i to maua ahau i runga i nga mahi i tukua ki a maua a kia puta mai ano etahi atu kupu ahau etc Kawana ki a maua. Era maua c ata korero atu ki a koe etc Kawana i a maua mahi i tukua mai hei whakahaerenga ma maua. Eki atu ana maua i runga i ta maua mahi kanui nga raruraru i pa mai ki a maua, ko etahi o aua raruraru kaore tahi he tikanga i ara ai eranga i riro hei whakaroa i ta maua mahi, me i kore kua poto ake ano. I te turuturutanga o ta maua Komihana; i te 3 o Maehe, 1879, ka noho maua i Poneke i te 13 o taua Marama. I puta ake ko Mr. Izard hei roia mo nga Maori cpa ana kite mahi ate Komihana a i ki ia tera ano etahi take c tika ai kia nekehia te Komihana mo etahi atu wiki ano ka tv, na i whakaae tonu te Komihana ki aua take—no reira ka tonoa c ia o taua roia mo te taha ki ona Maori (i reira ano a Taiaroa a i whakaae) kia nekehia, tuturu ana kia tv to Komihana ki Otautahi (Christchurch) a te 28 o Aperira. I taua ra i whakavitea ra tv ana te Komihana ki Otautahi (Christchurch) a i runga i te tono a te roia mo nga Maori nekehia atu ana ano ki Kaiapoi. I te whakapuaretanga o taua whakawa me etahi takiwa i muri iho i maha ano nga kiinga a nga Komihana era raua c haere i runga i te hiahia o nga Maori c whai take anai i roto i te Komihana mo te whakaritenga i nga wahi hei tunga mo te Komihana ara ki nga wahi c pai ano ki a ratou. Ko ta maua whai i te timatanga ano o ta maua mahi kia tino oti rawa ta maua rapu i nga mea katoa o ta maua mahi kia kore ai ho take c ara mai ai ano nga tikanga i waenganui nei i te Karuana me nga Maori. I whakaaro maua kia tino puare he huarahi ki nga Maori hei korerotanga i to ratou take katoa kia ratou ano te whakahaere, heoi ano te mea ki a maua ko te kimi i etahi korero atu ano mehemea c maharatia ana c maua i te mutunga o te taha ki a ratou me to ratou roia. I noho te Komihana ki Kaiapoi i te 5 o Mci a he nui nga korero i tangohia i etahi taugata tokomaha o Ngaitahu mo te Poraka c mohiotia anaio te Ngaitahu Poraka, i korero ano hoki a to Keepa, a Matara me Te Hamutana, ko ratou hoki nga kjti-hoko whenua a na ratou i riro ai te nuinga o te Waipounamu te hoko i nga Maori no ratou aua whenua. I te nohanga o te Komihana i Kaiapoi ka puta ake te raruraru tuatahi ki nga Komihana i runga i ta raua whakahaere. I hiahia te roia mo nga Maori kia whakaputaina to tino Pukapuka Tuku o Akaroa Poraka katahi ka tono nga Komihana kite Kawanatanga kia whakaputaina taua Pukapuka me etahi atu ano o nga tino Pukapuka Tuku. Ko Te Tauti to Komihama mo nga whenua Karauna kihai i whakaae kia puta mai aua pukapuka i waho a te Tari. Na ka puta ake ano te rua o nga raruraru i te korenga o te Kai-tiaki o nga moni a Te Parani c whakaae kite tuku moni kite Komihana ahakoa tonoa hei whakarite i nga mea tika me nga mea c pau ana i te Komihana ko te take i kore ai c whakaaetia he kore ano kaore i pootitia c te Paremete aua moni hei pera. I runga i enei take me etahi atu c kore c whakahuatia i konei kitea ana c nga Komihama heoi ano me mutu ta raua mahi—na nekehia ana i runga ito tono ate roia mo nga Maori—i kite roia c kore c ahei nga Maori kite whakahaere ite taha ki a ratou mo te Hoko o Akaroa me puta ra auo te tino Pukapuka o te Tuku. Ka kiia kia nekehia ki Poneke a whakaae ana nga Komihama kia taea ai te whai kupu atu kite Kawanatanga mo runga i enei me etahi atu putake korero (ko tetahi kia whakaturia he tangata hei tango i nga korero kite reo Maori) i puta ake i roto i a maua mahi —tetahi putake kia mohiotia te ra hei mahinga ano mo te Komihama. I nekehia mai te Komihama i Kaiapoi i te 21 o Mci kia huihui ki Poneke i te 27, ano a taua marama. Ka nekehia atu ano i Poneke ite27 o Mci kia noho ki Akarana itell o Akuhata—i wha-

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kaaro hoki nga Komihana c tika ana kia tv ki reira kia tangoliia nga korero a Te Penetana Tumuaki Kaiwhakakawa o te Kooti whenua Maori mo nga main a taua Kooti i runga i te kupu i tukua ki a ia mo te Pukapuka Tuka o Ngaitahu, whakaritenga ranei i te tunga o taua Kooti i Otautahi (Christchurch) i te tau 1888 —ko totalii mea i hiahiatia c te Komihana ko te tango i nga korero a Te Keepa, Komihana mo te hoko a Ngaitahu. Ka ta te Komihana ki Akarana i runga i taua nekehauga tangohia ana nga korero a Te Penetana raua ko Te Keepa, a i to 10 o Hepetoma ka nekehia i reira kia tv ano ki Poneke a te 20 o Oketopa, i runga i te mahara hoki ter.i pea c oti i reira efcahi tikianga c mahi ai ano nga Komihana i ta raua mahi, a c tv ai ano te Komihana ki nga wahi c hiahiata ai o te Waipounamu. Ite2B o Oketopa-ka noho te Komihana ki Poneko engari no te mea etu ana te Paremete i taua takiwa kitea ana c kore c tino pai kia tv tonu te Komihana i taua wa kite Waipounainu, a i runga hoki i te tona a Taiaroa he Mema hoki ia mYie Paremete a kaore i kaha kite whakarere i ona mahi kite haere kite Komihana kite Waipounamu —na roira whakaaetia ano kia nekehia atu mo tetahi atu takiwa. Engari hoki ite hanga etahi mapi ma te Komihana, me etahi tangata hei korero i Poneke c noho ana no reira ka noho tonu to Komihana i Poneke a ko etahi korero nui mo te mahi a to Komihana i puta i a Ta Hori Kerei, ia To Matara, me Te Make. I te 5 o Noema ka nekehia te Komihana ki Otaki hei tango i etahi korero mri i a Matene te Whiwhi he mate koroheko nona i koro ai c aliei te haere mai ki Poneke. Ka timata ano te noho ote Komihana ki Poneke itell o ISToema tae noa kite Go Tihema, katahi ka nekehia atu o maua i reira kite 13 o Hanuere, 1880, ko te takiwa tika hoki tera hei whakarite mo to haere kite Waipounamu ki to whakahaere ano ita maua mahi kite uiui korero i nga Maori tangata-kainga. I te 18 o Hanuere ka noho ano nga Komihana ki Poneke kite whakarite mo te haere kite Waipounamu. Whakaritea ana ko 1c 2 o Pepuere hei tunga ki Akaroa kite tango korero mo te hoko aTe Hamutana ite Poraka o Akaroa ite tau 1856. Koina te ra tata rawa i whakaritea ai kia ahei nga panui te puta. Na ito takiwa c taria atu ana taua ra ka karanatia ano aTo Matara aka korero auo ia kite aroaro o te Komihana i Poneko. I le 20 o Hauuere ka tae mai he reta ki a maua na Te Paraihe tono mai kia whakaaturia atu ki a ia kua powhea nga mahi a ta maua Komihana. Ko te kape o taua reta mo ta maua whakahoki ka tukua atu nei c maua kia mohio koe c Te Kawana. Ite26 o Hanuere kate ake aTe Pere lei a maua, ko ia te hoa roia o Izard, ka korero ia ki a maua kanui te mate o tona hoa to roia o nga Maori, a c kore ia c tae kite tunga ote Komihana ki Akaroa Ite 2 o nga ra Pepuere, katahi ia ka tono ki a maua ki a nekehia te korero mo Akaroa. I muri ite tukunga kupu atu ki a Taiaroa i Otakou hold ia, ka tuturu i a maua te haere ki Akaroa kite whakarite i te panui. kia korerotia atu hoki ki nga Maori c hui ana ki reira i te take o te nekehanga. Katahi ka tukua he panui whakaatu tera ano c tv te Komibana ki o To Poti (Dunedin) a te 16 o Pepuere hei whakawa i nga hoko o Otakou me Murihiku. I noho kau te Komihana ki Akaroa ite 2 o Pepuere a neke atu ana ki Otautuhi (Christchrurch) ka noho maua i reira ite 5 tae atu kite 10 o Pepuere tangohia c maua etahi korero nui i a Te Taka (Rev. Mr. Stack) mo runga i nga llahui Maori, i nga kura mo etahi atu mea. Ka haere atu maua i Otautahi (Christchurch) ki Te Poti (.Dunedin) a i runga i te tono a te roia ka nekehia atu te tunga o to Komihana ki Koputai (Port Chalmers) noho ana maua i reira i te 18 tae atu kite 20 o nga ra o Pepuere, pataia ana etahi Maori kai-korero, rongo ana hold i nga korero 0 te Ilaimona kai-whakawa ko ia nei te apiha nana i whakahaere te hoko o te Otakou Poraka i te tau 18 M. No muri ka noho te Komihana ki Waikouaiti ite26 of Pepuere tae atu kite 4 o nga ra o Maihe, tuhia ana i reira nga kupu a etahi kai-korero tokomaha noatu, haere a!u ana i reira ki Otautahi (Christchurch) i whakaaro hoki maua tera c puta he kupu hou i a to Taka (Rev. Mr. Stack) otira kaore i taea i te ngaro hoki ia ki ana Main Minita. Haere atu ana to Komihana i Otautahi (Christchurch) aim atu ana ki Akaroa noho ana i reira 1 te 12 o vga ra o Maihe tae atu ki to 17 wjuikarongo ana i nga korero a etahi Kai-korero Pakeha Maori hoki. Mahue ana a Akaroa i a maua haere atu ana ki Aparima (Uiverton) i runga i te whakaaro me pera kia taea ai te tono i etahi kerero nui a etahi tangata kihai i ahei kite haere mai ki Waikouaiti, ko aua korero ipa kite whiriwhiri mo te hoko o Murihiku. Noho ana te Komihana ki Aparima (Uiverton) i te 2i mo te 25 o nga ra o Maihe mutu iho i reira hoki ana kia noho ai ki Otautahi (Christclmrch) i to 2 a nga ra o Aperira. Puta mai ana ano etahi korero i Otautahi (Christchureh) hiahia ana maua kia whai korero a Te ltoretana (Hon. W. liolleston) raua ko Meiha Eetimana (Hon. Major llichmond) otira kaore i tae c maua, Haere mai ana maua i Otautahi (Christclmrch) i te 5 o nga ra o Aperira hoki mai kia noho ai ki Poneke (Wellington) i te 12 o nga ra. No te 13 o nga ra o A.peira katae mai te pukapuka a te Paraihe kia maua ki mai kia whakatamutua pea ta maua mahi kia mutu rano te mahi ote Paremete. Ka tukua atu o maua he kape o taua pukapuka me ta maua pukapuka whakahoki atu me te kupu whakahoki mai auo a te Paraihe kia maua hei whakainarama atu ki a kae c te Kawaua. I whakaaro maua me hui ano maua kite whakatika kite whakararaugi i nga korero i kohia c maua, kite whakaaro hoki mehemea me kohi ano etahi atu korero, no reira i whakaaro ai maua me haere ano maua ki Akarana i te 10 o nga ra o Mehi, noho ana maua i taua ra, tae.ana maua ki reira i taua ra katahi maua ka kite he roa rawa te mahinga -o aua mea me te whakatika me te whakararangi i nga korero me nga pukapuka. No te 16 o Hune ka mutu ta maua mahi kia hui ai auo itel9 o nga ra o Hurae kite whakaoti j taua mahi.

G.—7

7

No te2B o nga ra o Hune i runga i ta maua tono Ida homai he inoni ka kiia mai kia maua kaore he moni a te Kawanatanga c kore hoki c taea te homai i etahi atu uioni mo taua Komihana, no muri mai i tera ka tukua atu he kaute rarangi moni, i pau i a maua te nuiiiga o aua moni i te utunga i o maua haereretanga, na tetahi ano o nga Komihana i tuku alu, otira i pera ano te kupu whakahoki mai kihai i whakaaetia. E pouri ana maua kite roa o enei korero ka holia hoki pea koe, otira i whakaaro maua me tuhi katoa kia mohio ai koe c te Kawana ki nga tikanga o ii maua mahinga kia taea ai c koe c te Kawana te whakahaere i etahi ritenga c kitea ana c koe ka tika kia mahia. E whakaaro ana maua i tika ana ikonei kia whakahuatia c maua nga kupu i puta i a te Praihe te Minita mo te taha Maori i'tana tuuuga kite whai korero i roto i te Whare Bunanga i te 2 o nga ra o Hurae kua mahue ake nei. Ikia te Paraihe i rejra kua maha noatu ana tononga atu ki nga Komihana kia whakaaturia mai te wa c laea ai te tuku mai i ta raua ripota,. kihai i whakahokia mai tana patai. Kaore rawa maua c mahara ana ki tetahi patai ki tetahi pukupuka, ranei kia maua, kihai nei i whakahokia atu c maua i reira tonu. E tukua atu ana c maua nga kape o nga pukapuka utu atu i nga pukapuka katoa i tukua mai kia maua i runga i enei mea. I ki hoki a te Paraihe i patai ano ia ki tetahi o nga Komihana kite take i kore ai c tukua mai te repota tuatahi. I te 30 o nga ra o Hune ka whaikorero atu aua Komihana kia te Paraihi kia tukua mai etahi moni hei "whakahaere i taua Komihana. Xi ana mai ate Paraihe ki tana mohio c kore c whakaaetia etahi atu moui etc Whare c kore hoki c tonoa etc Kawanatanga etahi moni hei pera. Katahi ate Paraihe ka pataiai mai i te take i kore ai o tukua atu c maua he kupu whiriwhiri mo tetahi wahi o ta maua mahi. Kiia atu ana c maua kite tukua he kupu pera tera c riro hei whakamate ita maua tino ripoata (whakataunga) whakamutunga—engari ko te whakataunga whakamutunga tera ano c puta a te otinga o nga tino korero katoa i nga Komihana, a era pea c toru marama. Tetahi whakahoki ki tetahi patai mai ano a te Paraihe mo awhea tukua atu ai te ripoata (kupu whapatau) a nga Komihana i mea atu au. " Tera pea c toru marama. Ka haere au ki Akarana ka korero maua ko toku hoa mo te whakaputa i tetahi ripoata poto ma maua, engari kaore au i te pai no te mea era c eke kino ki runga ki ta maua tino whakataunga tuturu. JSfa mo te whakaputa i tetahi ripoata poto kaore c kitea c maua he take c pai ai. kia peratia. Ko ta maua whiriwhiri epa ana ki nga mahi o mua. Ta maua mahi he Kimi i nga take o roto i nga whakaritenga o mua kua pahure noa atu nei, a kaore a maua whakahau penei me te Komihana o te Tai Hauauru ana.whakahaerea tera c takahi te tino whakataunga. Na mo nga moni i pau i te Komihana ki ta maua whakaaro c hara teua i te kupu hei korerotanga ma maua. Itu maua hei Komihana kaore i rungo ite kupu c Ilia ranei nga moni ka pau mo taua mahi. Ko te pau nui o nga moni ma nga pire ena c whakamarama. He nui auo pea kite tiro atu engari he nui tonu hoki no te mahi hei whakapau. Na nga Komihana ano i utu ta raua Heketari, me ta raua kai-tuhituhi Kinga-poto me nga kopikopikotanga o ratou katoa, nga haerenga i runga Tima, i runga Borewe —nga utu hoki o etahi o nga kai-korero me nga ruma, me etahi atu mea huhua hoki o tau ki runga ki nga Komihana i a raua nohanga ki Akarana, ki Poneke, ki Otaki, ki Otautahi (Christohurch), ki Kaiapoi, ki Te Poti (Duuedin), ki Koputai (Port Chalmers), ki Waikouaiti, ki Akaroa, me Aparima (liiverton). Ko te kupu mo nga moni ki ta maua whakaaro ma te Paramrte heoi c kore maua c korero. Mo te ki a Te Paraihe kaore he hua o ta maua mahi —heoi ta maua i nui te uaua o te mahi kua nui hoki nga moni kua pau a c mea ana maua he tere rawa taua ki nei kaore he hua ota maua mahi. Heoi ra ko maua tenei c Te Kawana. Ko o tino Pononga ronga, Ko T. H. Te Mete. Akarana, Akuhata 9, 1880. Ko P. E. Neana.

Eta ma, — Tari Maori, Poneke, Hanuere 10, 1880. I runga i te whakahau a te Minita mo te tana Maori c tono atu ana ahau ki a korua kia tukua mai tetahi kupu kua pewhea ranei te ahua o ta korua mahi i te Komihana mo te Waipounamu i muri i ta korua kitenga i a ia i era wiki no aatu ra. E hiahia ana a Te Paraihe kia ki atu au kite kore c marama mai tetahi kupu mo nga mahi. a te Komihana c kitea ai he ra tata hei otinga —tera c whakaarohia nuitia c Te Kawanatanga te whakamutu o te Komihana. Heoi naku, Xi a te Mete, Kia a te Neana, Na te Brim, Poneke. Heketari.

Eta, — , Poneke, Hanuere 20, 1880. Kua tae mai te reta a Te Buihi tono mai kia tukua atu c mana tetahi kupu whakaatu i te rnahi a te Komihana o te Waipounamu o muri iho o to tatou kitenga i era wiki noa atu ra. Ta rnaua kupu tenei i muri iho i tana kitenga o tatou kua tango maua i etahi korero nui ia te Make, ia Ta Hori Kerei, me te Matara. Tetahi kupu ano a maua he whakaatu atu ki a koe ko ta maua Komihana i whakaarohia nei kia tv ki Akaroa me te Poti (Dunedin), na etahi take huhua nana i roa ai. Ko tetahi o aua take lie kore kaore c ahei a Taiaroa raua ko Tainui kite haere kite Komihana ki aua kainga kia mutu ra ano te Paremete—Tetahi hoki ko to ratou roia ko to nga Maori i te raruraru ke i roto i te Hupirimi Kooti i taua takiwa kaore i kaha kite tahuri ki tana mahi. I te tono a Taiaroa raua ko ta ratou roia kia nekehia to Komihana mo Akaroa me To Poti (Dunedin). hei muri o te Kirihimete whakaaetia ana c maua. Kua whakaritea hei tera Pepuere hei te 20 o nga rate tunga o te Komikana ki Akaroa ; koi na hoki te panui c mau ana i roto ite Kahili o Niw Tireni, No. 43, Tihema 10, 1370. Kaore maua c mohio ki tetahi take c whakaroangia ai te mahi a te Komihana.

G.—7

8

Xi ta maua titiro i naianei era maua c mutu mai i Akaroa me te Poti (Dunedin) a te 16 o Pepuere. E kore c taea c maua te whakapoto te takiwa c mutu ai te mahi i tukua nei ki a maua —erangi ki ta maua titiro i runga i to taha ki nga Maori c kore ano c kumea roati nga mahi. Tetahi kupu a maua kia oti rawa te taha ki nga Maori i ahua takoto mai nei ki a maua i ta ratou roia katahi maua ka kaha, kite ki he aha ranei nga korero c toe atu ana hei rapunga ma maua a hei whaikuputanga atu kite Kawana. Heoi na maua, Na T. H. Te Mete, Xi te Minite mo te trhe Maori, Poneke. Na T. E. Neana.

E Ta Ma,— Tari Maori, Poneke, 12 Aperira, 1880. I runga i te whakahau a Te Minita mo te taha Maori ho whakaatu takau ki a korua ko nga moni i pootitia mo to Komihana oto "Waipounamu kua tata te pau. Na c mea ana Te Paraihe c kore c whakaae te Paremete kia tukua c ia kia nui atu i era moni te paunga. He tono atu taku kia korua kia kiia mai mehemea he tika te whakaaro a Te Paraihe tera ano pea c taea te whakaoti ta korua mahi i roto i nga moni i whakaritea c te Whare. E mea ana a Te Paraihe kua oti tata nei ia korua etahi whiriwhiringa i te Waipounamu ; a c mahara ana ia he takiwa pai tenei hei whakamutunga i te Komihana, kia whakaritea ra ano etahi atu moni etc Paramete hei mahi ma te Komihana, Mehemea c tika ana tenei whakaaro i runga nei c mea ana te Minita mo te taha Maori me tono atu ia ki a korua kia whakamutua te whakapau moni i naianei i runga ita korua Komihana. Engari ka puritia ano eia tona tono kia tae mai ra ano ta korua kupu whakahoki mo tenei reta. Heoi, Na Te Etjihi, Kinga Komihana, Poneke. Heketai.

Eta, Poneke, 14 Aperira, 1880. Kua tae mai te reta a Te Euihi ki mai kua tata te pau o nga moni i pootitia mo te Komihana o te Waipouuamu ; me te tono mai kia whakaaturia atu ta maua main a me " kaua c puta atu i nga moni i whakaritea c te whare," a me te ki mai ano hold he takivva pai tenei hei whakaotinga i taua main kia pootitia ra ano he moui hove te Paramete hei whakahaere mo te Komihana. Koia tenei ta maua kupu i ta maua whakaaetanga ki ta maua Komihana kaore maua i mohio tera ano kua takoto he rohe mo nga moni hei paunga ite Komihana. Na ite mea kaore maua c mohio mehemea ranei kite mahi tonu maua tera c nui atu te pau o te moni i era c kiia ra c te reta a Te Euihi —heoi ka wbakaae maua kia mutu ta maua mahi mo tenei takiwa a kia kaua hoki c pau atu ano etahi moni kia oti rano te whakaritenga a te Paramete mo taua mahi. I runga i ta maua whakatarewa i ta maua mahi ko ta maua whakaaro tenei me tau anake ki runga ki a koe te tikanga i whakamutua ai taua mahi. Kua kiia mai hoki kite kore c puta atu he kupu tuturu ma maua c kore aua moni i pootitia ra c pahikatia atu c nga mahi a te Komihana, ka tonoa maua kia mutu i konei te whakapau i nga moni ko ta maua kupu tenei c kore maua c ahei kite ki atu i tena kupu tuturu heoi kaore he huarahi ke atu. Na ko tenei ka hui maua ki Akarana kite whiriwhiri i nga torero kua oti kite aroaro o te Komihana aki te whakarite hoki i nga korero c toe atu ana. Engari i tenei takiwa c mea ana maua kia mau tonu ki a inaua ta maua Heketari. Heoi na maua Na T. H. Te Mete. Xi Te Minita mo te Taha Maori, Poneke. Na 1\ E. Neana.

E Ta Ma,— Tari Maori, Poneke, 16 Aperira, 1880. I runga i te Whakahau ate Minita mo te Talia Maori mo ta korua reta —tenei au ka whakaatu atu ki a korua c whakaae ana a te Paraihe Ida tau lei runga ki a ia anake te tikanga mo te whakamutunga i nga moni mo ta korua Komihana kia kaua c nui atu i nga mea i pootitia nei c te Paremete. Kia tae katoa rnai nga pire katahi ano a.te Paraihe ka mohio c hia ranei aua moni c toe aua. E kore ia c whakaae ki te whakamaua i nga pukapuka moni ahakoa liei utu mo te Heketari mo te aha ranei mehemea c puta atu ana i nga moni i pootitia ra. Tetahi c kore ia c mea atu tera te Paremete c tonoa kia whakaritea ano etahi moni hou mo to Komihana. Heoi .Na Te Euiiii Xi Nga Komihana, Poneke. Heketari.

By Authority : G-eoeoe Didsbttry, Grorermnent Printer, Wellington. —1880. Price 6d.]